Italian home furnishings retailer Kartell has opened its first Canadian location, in Montreal's trendy Griffintown. A second Canadian store will follow soon after in Toronto, according to the company.

Retail Insider's Montreal correspondent Maxime Frechette visited the new Kartell store, providing photographs for this article as well as a video presentation of the new retail space. The 1,500 square foot Kartell store opened on Sunday at 1120 Wellington Street in Griffintown, alongside other home furnishing retailers such as EQ3, West Elm, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Ligne Roset and others. Kartell features a front terrace that will be open from May to October, as well as an interior with soaring ceiling to display the store's unique products.

*Click image for interactive Google Map. Edits by* *Maxime Frechette*

The company’s brick-and-mortar store strategy includes freestanding locations, as well as shop-in-stores within larger retailers. Kartell will utilize both, and will also soon launch a Canadian e-commerce site.

Inside Montreal's new Kartell store Video created by Maxime Frechette

Natural light floods the retail space, with a view of other home furnishing retailers such as EQ3. *Photo: Maxime Frechette*

*Transparent furniture pieces on display in the new Kartell store in Montreal. Photo: Maxime Frechette*

*Tableware in the new Montreal Kartell. Photo: Maxime Frechette*

Kartell was founded in 1949 and sells furniture, home furnishings, lighting and home accessories. The company collaborates with famous designers such as Philippe Starck and Eugeni Quitlet to create pieces, which are often colourful and unique. Plastic is used in innovative ways in many designs. The company has over 130 freestanding stores, 250 shop-in-shops, and can be found in over 2,500 retailers in 130 countries worldwide.

Canadian Retail News From Around The Web: June 1, 2016